Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/606,711

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INDICATING POSITIONING TIMING INFORMATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Mar 15, 2024
Examiner
JAIN, ANKUR
Art Unit
2649
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
ZTE CORPORATION
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 5m
To Grant
80%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allow Rate
436 granted / 583 resolved
+12.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +5% lift
Without
With
+5.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
9 currently pending
Career history
592
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.7%
-36.3% vs TC avg
§103
63.0%
+23.0% vs TC avg
§102
14.3%
-25.7% vs TC avg
§112
14.1%
-25.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 583 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Edge (WO 2020/092714). Regarding Claim 1, 20-22, Edge discloses configuring, by a wireless communication element (called LMF, fig. 9 (120)) a first time period, wherein time stamps (called slots [0059]) of reference signals for a positioning measurement are restricted to be within the first time period (period: total duration where measuring occurs including many single periods; alternative: one of the many periods when periodic, one slot per period; alternative: within time of semi persistent [0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a)); and sending, by the wireless communication element, a first message to activate the first time period ([0114]: requesting measurements , time related to start time of [00112] // [0121]; i.e. explicit activation of measurements via MAC CE refers to implicit activating start time). Regarding Claim 2, Edge discloses configuring, by the wireless communication element for a wireless communication device, the first time period, wherein time stamps of Positioning Reference Signals (PRSs) for a reference signal timing difference (RSTD) measurement are restricted to be within the first time period [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 3, Edge discloses wherein the first time period is configured as a plurality of periodic time intervals [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 4, Edge discloses wherein the first time period is configured with a time offset value [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 5, Edge discloses configuring, by the wireless communication element for a wireless communication node, a second time period, wherein time stamps of Sounding Reference Signals (SRSs) for a relative time of arrival (RTOA) measurement are restricted to be within the second time period [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 6, Edge discloses wherein the wireless communication node is a serving gNB or a neighboring gNB [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 7, Edge discloses wherein the second time period is configured as a plurality of periodic time intervals. [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 8, Edge discloses wherein the second time period is configured with a time offset value [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 9, Edge discloses wherein the second time period is configured without periodicity [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 10, Edge discloses sending, by the wireless communication element, a second message requesting a wireless communication node or a wireless communication device to provide its corresponding third time period; and receiving, by the wireless communication element from the wireless communication node or the wireless communication device, a third message including the corresponding third time period [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 11, Edge discloses wherein the fourth message further indicates a starting time stamp of the third time period [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 12, Edge discloses wherein the first time period corresponds to an individual reference Transmission Reception Point (TRP) [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 13, Edge discloses receiving, by the wireless communication node from a wireless communication device, a fourth message indicating an association relationship between a Sounding Reference signal (SRS) resource or SRS resource set and a plurality of User Equipment Transmission Timing Error Groups (UE Tx TEGs) corresponding to the wireless communication device; wherein the fourth message further indicates respective time stamps for the plurality of UETx TEGs [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 14, Edge discloses receiving, by the wireless communication element from the wireless communication device, a fifth message indicating a maximum number of the time stamps to which a single SRS resource or SRS resource set is allowed to correspond. [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 15, Edge discloses receiving, by the wireless communication element from the wireless communication device, a sixth message indicating a maximum number of the UE Tx TEGs to which a single SRS resource or SRS resource set is allowed to correspond [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 16, Edge discloses wherein a wireless communication device determines a starting time of a downlink reception from one Transmission Reception Point (TRP) according to one or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resources that are associated with a same User Equipment Reception Timing Error Group (UE Rx TEG) and are received within the first time period [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 17, Edge discloses wherein a wireless communication node determines a starting time of an uplink reception from one UE according to one or more Sounding Reference signal (SRS) resources that are associated with a same Transmission Reception Point Reception Timing Error Group (TRP Rx TEG) and are received within the first time period [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 18, Edge discloses wherein a wireless communication device determines a starting time of a downlink reception from one Transmission Reception Point (TRP) according toone or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resources that are associated with a same User Equipment Reception Timing Error Group (UE Rx TEG) [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Regarding Claim 19, Edge discloses wherein a wireless communication node determines a starting time of an uplink reception from one UE according to one or more Sounding Reference signal (SRS) resources that are associated with a same Transmission Reception Point Reception Timing Error Group (TRP Rx TEG) [(fig. 9 (120), 0059, 0107-0108; 0109, 00111, 0112 (start time), 0113 (configuration transmitted), [0121]; fig. 9 (4-5, 7-9a), 0114, 00112, 0121]. Claim(s) 1-22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Manolakos (US 2021/0185632). Regarding Claim 1, 20-22, Manolakos discloses configuring ([0155] / [0170]), by a wireless communication element (called Location server, fig. 14 (196) = LMF [0152]) a first time period (out of many others belonging to the PRS measuring total period ([0172]: transmitting PRS until end-time, cancel or reconfiguration); eg. fig.3 : PRS Period TPRS 320; first time period = x periods between start and end time; semi persistent/aperiodic: [0113, 0114] ), wherein time stamps of reference signals for a positioning measurement are restricted to be within the first time period ([0114], fig. 3 (318a) / [0171]: i.w. within period for a period, alternative between start & end time [0172]) ;and sending, by the wireless communication element, a first message to activate the first time period ([0156, 0171]: requesting for UL signals; fig. 14(4); i.e. implicit activation). Regarding Claim 2, Manolakos discloses configuring, by the wireless communication element for a wireless communication device, the first time period, wherein time stamps of Positioning Reference Signals (PRSs) for a reference signal timing difference (RSTD) measurement are restricted to be within the first time period [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 3, Manolakos discloses wherein the first time period is configured as a plurality of periodic time intervals [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 4, Manolakos discloses wherein the first time period is configured with a time offset value [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 5, Manolakos discloses configuring, by the wireless communication element for a wireless communication node, a second time period, wherein time stamps of Sounding Reference Signals (SRSs) for a relative time of arrival (RTOA) measurement are restricted to be within the second time period [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 6, Manolakos discloses wherein the wireless communication node is a serving gNB or a neighboring gNB [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 7, Manolakos discloses wherein the second time period is configured as a plurality of periodic time intervals [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 8, Manolakos discloses wherein the second time period is configured with a time offset value [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 9, Manolakos discloses wherein the second time period is configured without periodicity [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 10, Manolakos discloses sending, by the wireless communication element, a second message requesting a wireless communication node or a wireless communication device to provide its corresponding third time period; and receiving, by the wireless communication element from the wireless communication node or the wireless communication device, a third message including the corresponding third time period [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 11, Manolakos discloses wherein the fourth message further indicates a starting time stamp of the third time period [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 12, Manolakos discloses wherein the first time period corresponds to an individual reference Transmission Reception Point (TRP) [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 13, Manolakos discloses receiving, by the wireless communication node from a wireless communication device, a fourth message indicating an association relationship between a Sounding Reference signal (SRS) resource or SRS resource set and a plurality of User Equipment Transmission Timing Error Groups (UE Tx TEGs) corresponding to the wireless communication device; wherein the fourth message further indicates respective time stamps for the plurality of UETx TEGs [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 14, Manolakos discloses receiving, by the wireless communication element from the wireless communication device, a fifth message indicating a maximum number of the time stamps to which a single SRS resource or SRS resource set is allowed to correspond. [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 15, Manolakos discloses receiving, by the wireless communication element from the wireless communication device, a sixth message indicating a maximum number of the UE Tx TEGs to which a single SRS resource or SRS resource set is allowed to correspond [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 16, Manolakos discloses wherein a wireless communication device determines a starting time of a downlink reception from one Transmission Reception Point (TRP) according to one or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resources that are associated with a same User Equipment Reception Timing Error Group (UE Rx TEG) and are received within the first time period [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 17, Manolakos discloses wherein a wireless communication node determines a starting time of an uplink reception from one UE according to one or more Sounding Reference signal (SRS) resources that are associated with a same Transmission Reception Point Reception Timing Error Group (TRP Rx TEG) and are received within the first time period [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 18, Manolakos discloses wherein a wireless communication device determines a starting time of a downlink reception from one Transmission Reception Point (TRP) according toone or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resources that are associated with a same User Equipment Reception Timing Error Group (UE Rx TEG) [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Regarding Claim 19, Manolakos discloses wherein a wireless communication node determines a starting time of an uplink reception from one UE according to one or more Sounding Reference signal (SRS) resources that are associated with a same Transmission Reception Point Reception Timing Error Group (TRP Rx TEG) [0113-0114, 0152, 0155-0156, 0170-0172, Fig. 3, Fig. 14]. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANKUR JAIN whose telephone number is (571)272-9747. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 10:00-6:00 Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service /ANKUR JAIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2649
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 15, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12604287
WIRELESS MODEM AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12598606
PRIORITIZATION FOR SCHEDULING REQUEST AND PHYSICAL UPLINK SHARED CHANNEL WITHOUT LOGICAL CHANNEL ASSOCIATION
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12598607
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD AND DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12574099
Apparatus and Method for Transmitting or Receiving a Beam Direction Configuration
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12573286
HEALTH CARE SANITATION MONITORING SYSTEM
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

AI Strategy Recommendation

Get an AI-powered prosecution strategy using examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Powered by AI — typically takes 5-10 seconds

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
80%
With Interview (+5.4%)
3y 5m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 583 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month